 | BRIAN ASHTON FACTFILE Born: 3 Sept 1946, Leigh Playing career: Scrum-half for Tyldesley, Fylde, Orrell, Montferrand, Roma & Milan Coaching: Bath (1989-1996 & Jan-May 2006), Ireland (1996-98), England assistant (1998-2002 & May 2006-), National Academy Manager (2002-2005) |
Brian Ashton's coaching credentials are unparalleled in English rugby.
A succession of top players, from Stuart Barnes and Jeremy Guscott through to Matt Dawson and Jonny Wilkinson, have eulogised about the Lancastrian's vision and methods.
He is also credited with inspiring England to play the finest attacking rugby in their history when he was assistant to Clive Woodward from 1998 to 2002.
But there have been lingering doubts about whether the 60-year-old, who was named as England's head coach on Wednesday, can cut it as an international number one.
His only previous experience at that level was brief and undistinguished.
After signing a six-year contract with Ireland at the start of the 1997 Six Nations, he ended up resigning in February 1998 because of personal problems.
His tenure had lasted little more than a year and been characterised by poor results and a very public dispute with manager Pat Whelan.
By the time Ashton resigned he had shingles, a condition he had previously suffered from and which can be brought on by stress.
| WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT ASHTON The best coach in European rugby
Not that good in terms of winning international rugby matches
He's a great coach but I think we need a manager
England need a head coach who is not scared of losing and that man is Brian Ashton |
This has led to suggestions that Ashton is not cut out for the politics, media exposure and stresses that accompany the role of England head coach.
But former Lions manager Donal Lenihan, who was brought in as a third selector and "peacemaker" during Ashton's tenure with Ireland, says this is unfair.
"Brian was the right man for Ireland at the wrong time," Lenihan told BBC Sport. "We were only just coming to grips with professional rugby.
"Pat was from the amateur era while Brian very much embraced professionalism, and that inevitably led to tension.
"Other factors counted against Brian. He hadn't been involved in the Irish system, unlike his predecessor Murray Kidd and successor Warren Gatland.
"And he was based in England throughout his reign, which certainly didn't help."
Another accusation levelled at Ashton is that he is too much of a visionary and perfectionist to be a successful international coach.
Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper on 17 December, Woodward said: "Brian isn't that good in terms of winning international rugby matches.
"He was good in our set-up but we had to really keep him in his place. Just look at the stats. We never lost a game after he left. If he was so good, why did we never replace him two years before the World Cup?"
After his unsuccessful stint with Ireland, Ashton headed up the Rugby Football Union's national academy, and Woodward suggested he is best suited to this type of role.
"He is a good coach but where he is absolutely at his best is with kids," he added.
Yet Barnes argues that vision and creativity is exactly what England need at the moment.
 Ashton and Whelan had a very public spat |
"Only a man totally unafraid of defeat can stand that tall and attempt to restore the intelligence that has wasted away from the English game," said the former England fly-half, who played under Ashton at Bath. And Ashton's brief spell as Bath head coach earlier in the year, when he led them from the foot of the league table to the brink of Heineken Cup qualification and into the Cup final, proved he can successfully combine both attractive and winning rugby.
Another concern is that Ashton will have too much on his plate as both the attack and head coach.
Jeremy Guscott, who worked with Ashton at Bath and holds his former mentor in the highest regard, told BBC Sport: "To combine the two roles at international level is incredibly difficult and I wouldn't advise it.
"The coaching panel should stay as it is - I don't think anyone should be promoted upwards."
Lenihan agrees.
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"Brian's strongest facet is coaching the back line," the former Ireland lock told BBC Sport.
"The same was true of Andy Robinson, who was a world-class forwards coach. Both are hands-on coaches. But there's so much more to running a national team."
One of the key objectives for Andrew, who was only appointed as elite director of rugby in September, will be to take some of the load away from Ashton.
That could mean relieving him of some of the media and administrative work that comes with the job and in the longer term a team manager is likely to be appointed.
This is a big opportunity for Ashton to finally confound his critics and prove he can cut it as a head coach at the highest level.
And, at 60, it is likely to be his last.
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